Interdisciplinary approach for Atypical Parkinsonism

A TYPICAL Parkinsonism, a collection of neurodegenerative diseases that share symptoms with Parkinson's Disease but have unique features, poses challenges for patients and healthcare providers.

- Dr. Vignesh Srinivasan and Dr. Poovarasan

They include conditions like multiple system atrophy (MSA), corticobasal syndrome (CBS), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), and others that consist of a broad range of neuronal degeneration, unlike Parkinson's disease, which mainly affects neurons that make dopamine.

To relieve the complex nature of this disease, the review emphasizes that integrated approach of neurorehabilitation with medication is needed to optimize quality of life and functional autonomy.

Understanding Atypical Parkinsonism

The term "Atypical Parkinsonism" describes a class of neurodegenerative diseases that resemble Parkinson's Disease (PD) but proceed more quickly, react poorly to levodopa, and have unique clinical characteristics and they are connected to aberrant protein accumulation in brain cells.

Key conditions include progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), multiple system atrophy (MSA), and corticobasal degeneration (CBD). These conditions, in contrast to Parkinson's disease, frequently exhibit symmetrical symptoms, early balance problems, and less noticeable tremors.

The incidence rates of MSA, PSP, and CBD are approximately one per 100,000 person-years, and they haven't changed in the last 10 years. The age of onset varies, with MSA typically beginning in the late 50s, CBD in the early 60s, and PSP in the late 60s and there are no significant gender differences in Atypical Parkinson but slight female predominance has been noted.

Tau protein accumulation (also known as "tauopathy") that affects the frontal lobes, brainstem, cerebellum, and substantia nigra in progressive supranuclear palsy and the symptoms may include trouble moving their eyes, issue with balancing when going down stairs and backward falls are also common.